ornstein....mad

Potente Byrd Mæmes - Today at 12:15 AM
Ornstein had awoken very early this morning, maybe even before Gwyndio awoke, donning his armor and setting off from Anor Londo, into Lordran below, with ambitious Plans for the day. Plans that were briefly interrupted by a series of murder-based games about villages and mafia and ridiculous roles like penguins and virgins (how inappropriate!) and a couple terribly cagey individuals, but just as many upright ones.

Regardless, it was a day Ornstein has been planning for the last few days. One that he's tried countless times in the last.... he's lost count of how long he's been hunting the red drake. The undead about, the ones that have yet to lose their minds to hollowing, have long since begun calling it the 'Hellkite Dragon'. A dragon! That lowly drake! Truly, the humans of today have forgotten the image of the true ancient dragons. Beasts he exists to destroy, yes, but not without his respect for their greatness, their might, even as he drives them through with lightning and blades and snarling roars of violence.

The 'hellkite dragon' hardly deserves to have his attention quite like a true dragon, but through it's sheer survivability, it's gained it. He's failed to kill the thing countless times, not through its own strength, even if it's grown to a rather impressive size for a drake, but because it's clever and knows just how and when to flee, and when to tauntingly return, and by now recognizes that golden glint from a mile away. It's smart. And it mocks him. And he hates it and wants it dead.


Unfortunately, today was, again, not the day for the drake to die. Ornstein was led on another chase that the drake surely felt was merry, as he once again failed to sneak up upon it in order to kill it before it fled again. Always, he's usually able to at least injure it before it runs away by now, but it still gets away is the problem, and the damned thing knows some skill to heal itself rapidly once it's away and safe.

And so, after a wasted day, Ornstein returns as afternoon turns to evening, his footsteps heavy, his grip on his slightly bloodied spear so tight that his knuckles are likely white under his gauntlets- and the shining gold of his armor splattered here and there in the taunting blood of the drake that got away again, no doubt already done nursing its wounds and snickering to itself how it lived another day at the Dragonslayer's humiliation.

After tromping up the grand stairs and through the great, golden doors of the palace, he makes his way past the illusory sentinels in the grand hall, turning to make his way to the slightly less grand halls that lead to where he might clean himself and his armor, but then-

With no care for who may or may not be nearby, Ornstein suddenly finds himself overtaken with frustrated rage, snarling loudly as he chucks his spear at the marble floor where it clatters loudly alongside the shout of his voice blaring out some swear. He takes off his helmet, too, and is about to chuck that- going through the motion, too- but just before his fingers slip, he re-tightens his grip, and saves the lion's face from potentially being dented on the floor, instead clutching it in his hands as he seethes, his ponytail partially fallen apart, wavy locks of hair sticking out about his head, some plastered in place by the sweat at his temples, forehead, and neck. And there is such clear anger and hatred all over that scarred face, slightly red with the exertion of such frustration.


Endless - Today at 12:45 AM
By now, Gwyndio has risen, gone about his usual morning business, and set about plotting out what might be the best route to the very highest point in Anor Londo. An entirely unnecessary task, of course, but climbing things has always been something of a hobby of his that even being able to fly on the back of a drake has done nothing to dampen the simple joy of.

Running into Ornstein in his only partially aimless wanderings is a nice bit of serendipity, having half expected to not see his knight until later in the day. And from the state of him... well, he can make an educated guess for the reason behind looking as (very attractively) disheveled as his beloved is.

The scarf does absolutely nothing to hide the amusement in the former war god's face or voice. "The red drake escaped again?"

He loves you and understands your frustration, man, but this is also kind of hilarious from his perspective.


Potente Byrd Mæmes - Today at 12:50 AM
Ornstein hadn't noticed Gwyndio nearby until the man spoke, and Ornstein jerks with a start, turning away from glaring at the lion's face on his helmet, to instead look up at Gwyndio in surprise- and then glower all over again, scowling really, his nose crinkling.

"Does it amuse you so?" He asks with a biting tone, and shoves his helmet at Gwyndio to let him hold onto it. Goodness! He's getting pretty uppity in his frustration. He turns away slightly, crossing his arms, and refuses to answer the question directly, but it's easy to tell that that is absolutely the case. "I did not realize you knew of that. I had not intended to tell you about the matter if you didn't ask first. Did Gwyndolin inform you?"


Endless - Today at 1:02 AM
He takes the helmet without complaint, tempering his amusement just slightly in an effort to be at least somewhat supportive.

"He has made mention of it, although the scars it sports are telling enough on their own. They're quite distinctive."


Potente Byrd Mæmes - Today at 1:14 AM
Ornstein snorts, and seems to be TRYING to force himself to calm down, and... it's not working in the slightest, his footsteps heavy as he paces. "I want the damnable thing dead! The spiteful beast hath been a thorn in my side for far too long!" He gestures with his hands as he speaks, something he doesn't normally do, but in his frustration he just can't seem to help- much of the gesturing seems to be him struggling to refrain from grabbing at his own hair. "It's not even powerful! It's just clever and sneaky and spiteful! It thinks it is so terribly great, that it can elude me, that it can survive this long, that it's grown so large. It thinks it's special. It knows I could slaughter it in a heartbeat if it wouldn't be such a sneaking coward, and still it thinks itself superior- I know it mocks me!!"

And then he turns to Gwyndio, anger suddenly half-melting to almost despairing exasperation, and he says, "Do you know what the still sane Undead in Lordran call the thing? They call it the 'Hellkite Dragon'. That red runt! A dragon! Really! I'm sure that all goes right to the beast's head, fueling it's haughty cowardice, that the humans of today would mistake such a lowly creature for a true dragon! None of them, drake or human, could fathom the true Ancient dragons!"

(( him....mad ))

Endless - Yesterday at 10:37 PM
If he were to be completely honest, Gwyndio can see where the drake is coming from as much as he can Ornstein. From a warrior's perspective, especially those that were practically born and bred for battle, to consistantly flee in the face of your enemy instead of standing and fighting does indeed look the act of a coward. From the perspective of those who care nothing for honor - those that have no concept of it, in the case of the Hellkite drake - survival is important above all else; the only thing more important is the survival of those they care about most. To win a war, one must understand and represent both.

Though he has not been called such for a very long time, War still understands this.

"...Perhaps it believes that in continuing to survive, it does its ancestors proud, distant as they are. Considering that you are its opponent, any pride it takes at being able to escape is not unwarranted." He smiles again, this time filled with pride and affection for his knight. "After all, you are my Dragonslayer."

((just watch, he'll make a really dorky innuendo involving the title at some point))

Potente Byrd Mæmes - Yesterday at 10:39 PM
(( ill slay ur dragon etc etc ))

Practically deflates, but though he lets out air in an exasperated sigh, it does little to take his frustration with it, despite Gwyndio's words. He's merely tired. And he says in an exasperated tone with a hint of anguish he doesn't notice but would no doubt be ashamed of, "I AM a Dragonslayer!" And he puts his hands on Gwyndio's arms, lowering his head in absolute shame. "So why can I not simply defeat this damnable drake?"

The vulnerable moment passes quickly, however, and he backs off again, hot air of frustration blowing him back up. "You say it is merely trying to survive, and taking its pride there- Then it is a fool to repeatedly come back and try its luck against me so many times, if it's goal is to survive." Even if its luck so far has been pretty damn good, considering. "A hunted beast by now should know better than to continue to invade the territory of the predator."

Endless - Yesterday at 11:04 PM
Gently, he transfers the helmet in his hands to the floor, then closing the gap between them again to take one of his lover's hands.

"Even a hunted beast will return to the place it feels most comfortable if it believes the risk is acceptable."

'You were worth it' remains unsaid, if heavily implied by his gaze.

Potente Byrd Mæmes - Yesterday at 11:14 PM
Ornstein is, unfortunately, a rather clueless man, and subtleties (and even things that aren't subtle at all but also not directly pointed out-) tend to fly right past him. In this case, he fails to understand Gwyndio's gaze, and one can practically hear the implication whistle through the air far above his head, his dumb fluffy cat head. Instead, he looks at Gwyndio in frustrated grief, grimacing, but doesn't try to pull his hand back yet, instead curling it in Gwyndio's.

"I hate it." He says, his voice at least lowering for the moment, as opposed to the angry loudness he's mostly had up til now. "I do not wish it to find its comfort here. It does naught but cause trouble and make messes and end the days of weaker-willed undead far too soon."

He's not super invested in humans or undead, but he can't help but find some sympathy in the undeserved demise of so many people. He clenches his hand in Gwyndio's then, his face screwing up in terrible anger, an awful grimace and a crinkled nose and heavily furrowed brow, the scars on his face shifting with the rest of it. "And it has insulted me far too many times. I will not be satisfied until the beast's head is a trophy upon the wall."

Endless - Yesterday at 11:44 PM
Gwyndio gently tightens his own grip, using his free arm to pull Ornstein into a loose hug. As is so often the case, he finds himself struggling to find the right words. As much as his father had wanted, he would never be a diplomat. But... perhaps action would suffice here. Anything for one of the people he loves the most.

"Then as your chosen king, I must make sure you can pay it back. The King of the Storm and I should easily be enough to keep it from the skies, if you will allow the assist."

Potente Byrd Mæmes - Yesterday at 11:48 PM
Ornstein at least allows himself to be pulled into the hug and just... lets his forehead rest against Gwyndio's chest (why is he so big) as he sighs, closing his eyes for a moment and, at least for now, speaking calmly. "I appreciate the offer, I do, my Lord. And on a logical level I know it is the wiser option, and we both know I hath ever advocated that a dragonslayer is only as good as those who fight beside him, but-"

Of course there's a but, and he lifts his head to look up at Gwyndio, frowning still, and despite his temporary calmness, there's a fire in his red-amber eyes that only glows brighter. "You must understand, Gwyndio, that at a point such as this, things have become a personal matter." He says, and straightens up. "Call me foolish if you wish, but this is a matter of my pride- what there is left of it. It must be something I do on my own."

Endless - Today at 12:08 AM
(The size of his children is a mystery even Gwyn was never able to solve.)

Gwyndio holds his gaze, resigned yet fond, nodding in understanding. The people he loves are all so stubborn once they set their mind to something, and he wouldn't have any of them change for the world. "Do what you feel you must. But please... do not hesitate to ask if you need my support in any capacity not directly involving the beast."

Potente Byrd Mæmes - Today at 12:16 AM
Ornstein sighs, and smiles at Gwyndio- as small and slightly lopsided a thing it is, a upturn of the corner of his mouth. "You do enough merely by allowing me to be beside you, my Lord." He says in a soft voice, finally pulling away, but snatching one of Gwyndio's hands as he does, to place a couple kisses upon his knuckles. "It is a delight, at least, to be able to come home to you... Even if, at the moment, it does not do as much as I'd like to soothe my frustration."

At least he admits he's frustrated! And then he lets Gwyndio have his hand back, after a little affectionate squeeze, in order to step away, and lean the back of his shoulder against a marble pillar, crossing his arms and frowning again, down at the tiled floor. "I just cannot understand what I am doing so wrong. I have slayed dragons far greater than this whelp, far more powerful, more clever, more dexterous- why has this one failed to die for so long??"

His voice grows as the sentence goes on, as the frustration he admitted won't yet fade comes flaring back like a stoked flame.

Endless - Last Thursday at 10:33 PM
Gwyndio relishes the words and the kisses, though he quietly mourns the loss of contact. (But then, though it had become frequent in recent months, it's hard not to cherish every little touch when it had been so rare from anyone but the storm drake who had claimed him for so very, very long.) The concern at his knight's frustration is not so quiet; it radiates in his body language even as his words remain fairly steady.

"...I do not know. Perhaps it was simply lucky enough to evade you long enough to learn your patterns."

Potente Byrd Mæmes - Last Thursday at 10:47 PM
Ornstein is quietly relieved, at least, that there seems to be at least a little less amusement coming from Gwyndio at Ornstein's plight. Still, he sighs, but it's a growly-sounding thing, his lips twisting in a slight snarl. "I suppose that is the benefit of finishing things with a single opponent with finality. A repeated opponent learns. But-" And then he swears, and pushes away from the pillar he was leaning on, and says, louder, "Why have /I/ not learned from our scrimmages, then?! Have I truly gone so stale?? Hath my skills deteriorated and stagnated so??"

And then he turns, and slams his armored fist into the pillar with a greater snarl of frustration. The poor chunk of marble. "Of what use is such a rusted blade?!"

Endless - Today at 1:26 AM
RIP chunk of marble. You did your duty, only to end up like this.

Alarmed, Gwyndio steps forward on pure instinct, hands around the smaller fist and pulling away from the damaged marble, a miracle performed without any thought beyond the simple, wordless desire to sooth any hurt. For a moment he does nothing more, expression somewhere between concern and outright fear that Ornstein had harmed himself in his frustration.

Then, more gradually than it had come, the former god buries the fear, keeping his gaze on their hands instead of looking into his knight's face. "...A rusted blade can be cleaned and sharpened again. It just... takes a bit of time, and someone with the patience for it."

Potente Byrd Mæmes - Today at 1:29 AM
Ornstein's still growling when Gwyndio abruptly takes his hand to take away from the now-damaged marble, and heal any damage he may have done to himself... He's failed to notice if there was any, but for all he knows, he may have broken his knuckles or metacarpals or something and not noticed through his sheer rage-adrenaline. He even goes so far as to briefly try to tug his hand from Gwyndio's grip, before just letting him have it.

He, too, refuses to look Gwyndio in the face, keeping his own turned down to their hands as well. But where Gwyndio's is filled with worry, Ornstein's face is clearly written over with anger, frustration, and some measure of self-hatred. "Not all, my Lord, don't be a fool. You know as well as I do that there comes a time when a blade has become so rusted as to be irreparable, too little metal left to be of use after the rust is scraped away." He speaks with a sharp hissing to his tone, teeth clenched. "Naught left but a dull, useless shard of iron, not even enough to sharpen. What use is such a rusted blade? That can no longer keep an edge? Such a thing is better left cast aside in the dirt where you found it."

And is this how Ornstein views himself...? He takes a sharp breath through his teeth, somehow managing to glower even harder, clenching his fist tighter in Gwyndio's hand, hard enough that, were his palm not protected, it'd be a bit worrying. His hand trembles with the effort. "I cannot even slay a drake." He says, voice quietly seething, but with a restrained tremor of despair, that steadily overtakes the simmering rage, much to the knight's added shame. "I've been put away as decoration far too long. What use am I in this dragonless age- can I even truly test those who might claim the Lordvessel? Would I have even been an adequate guard for your sisters? What use am I, without dragons to slay?"

Endless - Today at 11:03 PM
With every word from Ornstein's mouth, the pain in Gwyndio's heart grows. He wants to shout his denial, to tell Ornstein as loudly as his vocal chords can manage that he's not a rusted piece of iron to be left in the dirt, yet stops himself. Yelling wouldn't help, no matter the volume of his feelings.

Idly, he notices his scarf has become damp. When had that happened...? He surely would have noticed if he was biting his lip hard enough to bleed that much. When he manages a reply, his own words sound awfully wet as well.

"...Maybe I am a fool. Maybe I-i'm the s-sort of idiot who-" Oh dear, his face is definitely leaking, contrary to what he was trying for- "who can't ev-even m-anage TRYING to protect anyone w-without sc-sc-screwing it up and mmmaking it worse-!" Oh no, and now he's just shy of full on sobbing, and is definitely shaking horribly. Fine way to illustrate the point, he thinks, even mucking up trying to comfort his oldest friend and lover, but he's gotta keep going since this isn't ABOUT him and his stupid little problems. "You're just rea-really in-in-in a slump right now. It'll g-get better, and you'll be-e amazing like always-!"

Potente Byrd Mæmes - Today at 11:21 PM
Ornstein doesn't notice Gwyndio's upset at first, which only serves to devastate him further when it finally hits him- he failed to notice wet eyes and damp cheeks, doesn't quite register the stammering at first until it refuses to cease and worms its way into his consciousness, and then it all hits him at once, and his hot air of anger deflates again for the time being as an ache replaces it in his chest instead. His hand is still held by his beloved's, so he brings up his other hand to hold it back in both of his, frowning hard, this time in concern, rather than anger. He can't recall seeing Gwyndio quite like this before.

"My lord- my beloved..." He says, his voice hushed, as he squeezes Gwyndio's hand in his. "You are no such fool or idiot, no such thing at all. You are brilliant, compassionate, and strong, even as you weep, for that only shows the strength of your great heart. I admit, I had not intended to bring such grievances about the drake to you, knowing your sympathy for dragons and their kin, a bleeding heart as you are. But despite my occasional disagreements, your bleeding heart hath ever been one of your virtues, one that I have always respected, one that I can now recognize is something I adore and love of you."

He kisses his lord's hand- several times, at least one on each knuckle, so that Gwyndio can know that every word he's said there was true. "But please, my lord, my love, stem the tide for my grievances, for they are no failing of yours, and little to do with you. I merely... I..." Oh no, the frustration is coming back, only temporarily held back by his concern for his love, and his face screws up a bit, despite how he tries to soothe himself by nuzzling Gwyndio's hand. "You cannot say I am merely in a slump... when such a thing has lasted since before your father linked the fire. It is over a thousand years, my love, that it can no longer be a mere slump, something I can simply recover from. I told you, I've been shelved too long, too long left to rust, with little to cause me challenge to keep my edge sharp. To act as a simple guard is no place for one such as I, but what else is there? This dragonless age no longer has a proper place for me, who must instead be placed into a role I do not comfortably fit, one that feels more and more useless with every passing day, every year, every cursed century..!"

And then suddenly, he looks up to Gwyndio's face, and says, "What am I? We said it a minute ago, you and I- what am I? What have I been so perfectly honed to be, made to be among the best, by your father, by you- What did you make me into??" He's trembling gently, now, and there may be a dampness to his eyes, though it refuses to shed like Gwyndio's had, even as Ornstein's frustration and anger returns in strength, blowing him up with its hot air. "What am I, Gwyndio?! What am I meant to be, what has been my one purpose in this long life, what has been my only calling, what was I so anxiously willing to allow you to mold me into, what is the one thing I have ever truly taken pride from so that it now lays in such shambles that I cling to?! I've been lost, my love, I did my duty too well, we all did, and now there's nothing left! I have stagnated and rusted, and there is little to be done, as there is no purpose left for me, only orders I must cling to lest I waste away ever faster."

He takes a breath- "What am I, Gwyndio-" He squeeze's the God's hand so tight, it might cause some small hurt even to Gwyndio. "What am I, despite this dragonless age leaving it a worthless thing of empty value and fading nostalgia!" His voice has been growing, and it's restrained barely under a shout, full of anger and loss, agony and despair and frustration, that he says loudly, "What am I?!!"


He is a Dragonslayer, one of the last of his ilk, and he can't even slay a drake.

Endless - Today at 1:12 AM
Contrary to the intended effect, the attempt at soothing only quiets the tears, the only sound the occasional tiny sob when breathing became a struggle. Everything is too blurred to make out more than shapes, and every new word of despair brings new tears. Tears for the pain his love has suffered for so long. Tears for having experienced that same loss of identity.

He had once been heir to the sun.

He closes his eyes tightly, attempting to dam the flood. The sun had discarded him and abandoned his two youngest siblings, choosing in the end to burn and leave that lonely crown as a burden for the last child their father would acknowledge to bear alone. He'd been the Heir. More than that, he'd been shaped to be War from so early that he can no longer clearly remember when Father had begun to do so. He'd been...

Gwyndio opens his eyes again, meeting the storm of emotion with his own, sorrow and loneliness warring with hope and determination. His voice is quiet, but this time it barely wavers.

"...Even if it means little in this dying world, you are a Dragonslayer and I one who was accepted as one of them. Train with me again. Become as strong- no, stronger than you were before. Learn again to slay this dragon in all but the most literal sense." Give him a purpose beyond merely existing. "...Perhaps we can both learn to be something new in the process."

Potente Byrd Mæmes - Today at 6:28 AM
Ornstein's eyes are wet, but still, the wetness refrains from spilling over the lids of his eyes, despite that his own are trained on Gwyndio's even wetter ones, that had already made tracks of dampness on his face and pooled in the linen of his scarf that his little brother had so lovingly labored over not so long ago. But still, though they stay in place for now, they threaten to dampen Ornstein's cheeks as well, especially the way he trembles, the way his voice shakes when he whispers in such despair. "I am a Dragonslayer..."

Ornstein isn't a stupid man- he's sharp-witted and clever where he needs to be, he's a fast thinker and tends to be quite rational most of the time in his thought process. But things just... tend to fly over his head if they're not made perfectly clear, when left instead to subtleties and things that are less than literal. Gwyndio's suggestions are noble and thoughtful, and may soothe him if he were given more time to think on it, if they took the time to explain it more clearly, but as it is... He misses the point so spectacularly.

"What is the point of such a thing, for me? Even if- Even if you could bring me back to strength, make me stronger... Even if I finally slayed that damnable drake... What purpose would any of it serve?" Well, at least we've definitely gotten to the meat of his frustration, not merely his damaged pride of failing to kill a drake. But it seems like Gwyndio's attempts at reason are falling on deaf ears now, as what is clearly an awful lot of bottled emotion froths over, spills from Ornstein, with nothing to stop the flow. Gwyndio may as well try to catch the snowmelt of a long overdue spring in his hands. "I am a Dragonslayer, Gwyndio! It's all I am!"

He takes his hands from Gwyndio's to instead grab at the man's arms, clutching at him tight, desperately, with his armored hands, still flecked with the drake's drying blood. "To what purpose would such strength go?? What purpose is there left for me?? What use is there left for me in this forsaken world, lest I go mad from idleness?!" With the way his red-amber eyes have blown wide, he may have already gone there just slightly. Over a thousand years of idleness has clearly taken its toll on Ornstein, what's left of him barely held together, clinging to what scraps it can manage to keep solid. He digs his fingers into Gwyndio's arms,  the raging fire in his eyes burning bright, his arms shaking with the effort. "What am I- say it again, damn it! What useless thing am I, hunting tiny drake whelps to try and whet my long-gone purpose, a vain attempt to deny my uselessness! The pride I can only pretend to hold claim to anymore, after so long spent as a mere decoration to be paraded about in victory as I gather rust, victory only a mockery of my uselessness, a glorified ornament I'd become among your father's trophies, to look impressive by your sister's side or in the grand hall-"

He squeezes tighter still, sorry Gwyndio, And he hisses through clenched teeth, voice rough. "Say it again. Just say it! What. Am. I?!"

Endless - Today at 1:30 AM
In spite of his assertions of having grown useless, Ornstein is not a weak man by any means, and this combined with the armor makes his grip noticeably painful. It would bruise later, surely, Gwyndio notes, even as the pain cuts through his own distress enough to bring some small measure of calm to him. The tears continue to flow, but his expression grows determined and there is a charge behind his eyes much like the air holds when lightning brews in the clouds.

As a warning, he lightly digs a few of his own fingers into gap in Ornsein's armor just under his arms.

"A stubborn man - and one whom I love for it - who has forgotten that there are other worlds out there. Surely some of our friends know of ones with wicked dragons that deserve to be slain."

Potente Byrd Mæmes - Today at 2:49 AM
The bit of pain of strong fingers digging into his arms through the gap in his armor, of course Gwyndio knows such a weakpoint, only dimly registers to Ornstein's frantic mind. Much like he fails to notice the grip he has on Gwyndio as well. He'll be quite aware of it later when it probably causes a bruise. Still, it's enough to slacken his grip slightly, but that only makes his arms shake worse.

"You didn't say- That is not our world- not my world-" He stammers, and he knows where Gwyndio is coming from, he does, and maybe he'd find this suggestion much more delightful were he not in the irrational state he's in, to let him play hero at saving other realities from far more tyrannous dragons. "You are not listening to me-" Says the man who isn't listening to Gwyndio, "Is it so wrong for a man to lament a lack of purpose in his own world, Gwyndio?!"

He finally yanks himself away from the other man, shoving his hands off of Gwyndio's arms. "And what if we have no way to those other worlds at will, what then?! What am I to do?? I am a dragonslayer of this world, Gwyndio! I'm meant for only one thing in this world, and this world is empty of it, with no use for me. Can a man not lament his uselessness to a forsaken world?!" And with that, he lets out another frustrated yell, turning again to once more slam his fist into that poor abused pillar, leaving another fist-sized dent in the marble. God dammit, Ornstein, stop that. "What Knight am I, what failure am I, last of the Knights of your father, last of the dragonslayers, wasted away to next to nothing?? I was a dragonslayer!! Aaaugh!!"

Before Gwyndio can step forward to, most likely, try to heal his potentially damaged hand again, Ornstein steps back with a snarl- only for his foot to bump against his cross spear he'd left on the ground. And in a single fluid, rageful motion, he kicks the spear's shaft upward to be snatched out of the air, where it promptly crackles with lighting from pommel to tip- which is then, which a bellowing, guttural roar from Ornstein, driven deep into the nearest wall- to the point where even the cross of the spear vanishes into the now heavily damaged marble. Oh, dear.

Gone from reason and lost to his rage and broken pride and shattered sense of self, Ornstein has no words left, but still plenty of yelling to do. So he yells. And yells. And yells. Intermixing with snarls of rage, and sometimes something that sounds almost more like pain, while he gropes at the air with shaking, gesturing arms, or grabs at his hair, or simply just gesticulates angrily in meaningless ways, unable to truly express his frustration anymore in anything other than such a base manner. So he just yells, as long and as loud as his lungs will allow, in a fit unlike any he's ever had in his long, long life, and that he, hopefully, may never have again once it's run it's course.

Endless - Today at 3:35 PM
Gwyndio backs off, allowing Ornstein's anguished flailing. He knows that later he'll have to do something about the wall and the pillar; of the five people still here, he's probably the only one who knows anything about patching damage done to stone.

His knight isn't the only one who's familiar with this sort of existential despair.

And so he waits. Waits for it to pass. Waits to help gather up the pieces of someone else's heart for once.

Potente Byrd Mæmes - Today at 3:42 PM
It takes a bit, but Gwyndio's waiting eventually pays off. Eventually, as Ornstein gradually loses his voice from the strain, it starts to crack, which has the effect of making what previously sounded mostly like anguished rage sound more like pained anguish. Especially as it gets worse, and his voice whittles itself down further and further, until he's left making more of what sounds like pitiful yelps, and then whimpers. He sinks to his knees onto the floor as the last failed attempt at another shout fades, leaving him panting for breath, his head hung low, and his arms slack at his sides, shoulders slumped.

When he seems to have caught his breath, with some amount of snuffling involved, he lifts his head at last, and looks back over at Gwyndio- hair more loose than not, sticking to his face not just with sweat anymore, but with dampness- tears that finally spilled over from his now bloodshot eyes having left tracks down his cheeks, and gathered along the scar across the one cheek, and dripped off his chin. He sniffs, and in a voice so hoarse it's more of a whisper, he asks, "How d-do you do it...? How do you... H-How do you keep from going mad?"

He glances away and tries to wipe at his face with the back of his hand, but that doesn't really work well with gauntlets. "How do you m-manage to simply... s-simply go day by day without some f-fforce, some duty or purpose, driving you? How do you find such... contentment in idleness?" His voice is really struggling with speech, fading to mostly just breath in places as he tries to talk, and his breath shudders here and there with the dregs of emotion. "I can-nnot manage such a thing, though I have long tried. I wish I could..."

Endless - Last Monday at 1:24 PM
Gwyndio kneels in front of Ornstein, taking his face and gently wiping the tears away with his own hands, bare and much more suited to the task than gauntlet covered ones. He offers a small, somewhat sad smile.

"In truth, it was difficult at first. With no battles save the occasional attack by someone wishing to test themselves or to claim my soul or any number of reasons, I simply... found anything to do that might pass the time. Without the gradual flow of people wishing to learn more about the dragons as a way to better themselves and the King of the Storm, I think eventually my senses would have abandoned me."

He rests his forehead against his knight's, closing his eyes. "As long as we are together, we can fend off the madness together. I'm certain of it."

Potente Byrd Mæmes - Last Monday at 1:32 PM
There's not even a single effort to stop Gwyndio or push him away as he comes close to sweetly wipe Ornstein's face, and no sign of any desire to. Instead, Ornstein just holds still, watching his love with bloodshot, wet eyes, and trying not to sniffle too much, and maybe lean his cheek just slightly into Gwyndio's palm.

Now with the frustration finally flown from him, expelled so forcefully, he's ready to listen, and he does. And he takes a slow breath, before letting it out as a soft sigh, closing his eyes as Gwyndio's forehead rests against his. "I believe you." His hoarse hardly-voice whispers. "... It is already much better to have you at my side, and even your warrior of sunlight, and Lady Gwyndolin no longer so sequestered. It is already... less maddening."

And he presses a quick, soft barely-kiss to Gwyndio's lips, more of a brush of his against his loves. "I... am awful sorry, my love."

Endless - Last Monday at 2:03 PM
"You have done nothing I myself haven't." He nuzzles his love's nose, smiling more happily this time. "Although your spear might be a bit difficult to extract from the wall. Though you say you've lost strength, stone is still no match for you."

Potente Byrd Mæmes - Last Monday at 2:10 PM
Ornstein can't help but give a slight smile of his own at the compliment, as embarrassed as he is over his terrible fit. "Still... Aside from the mess I have made, I made you weep, my lord." He says, and lifts his hand to delve into Gwyndio's scarf, to caress and cup at his jaw, thumb rubbing gently against his cheek. "And yet here you kneel, to wipe my tears and be so kind, when it should be I comforting you. What a Knight am I."

He sighs again, and closes his eyes once more, letting his face stay so close to Gwyndio's, his damaged nose  slotted alongside his love's. "I... You know that I truly do love you, don't you?" He says, damaged voice quieting further. "I fear I have not quite made it as clear as I should. That I have not expressed to you the amount of love and adoration you deserve, that my heart knows you deserve."

Endless - Yesterday at 5:12 PM
Ah. Now he's caught between the urge to stay in place or to lean into the hand against his cheek. It's a perdicament, but a nice one.

"It's alright. A love even half as strong as my own would be impossible to fully express with words, so to equal it..."

Potente Byrd Mæmes - Yesterday at 5:12 PM
"Then, at the least, I will take my turn to be the one to wipe away tears." Which he does, or tries to with his gauntlets on, delving his other hand under Gwyndio's scard to rub gently at both sides of his face. But then he stops, simply holding Gwyndio's face in his hands, and lets their foreheads rest together. "I am... also sorry to have you seen me like this-" He pauses to clear his very sore throat, "I am not entirely sure what had come over me..."

Endless - Yesterday at 10:18 PM
Look at these two, just holding each other's faces. It's so sweet.

Gwyndio smiles, basking in the contact. "Do not be. Although I'm sad you feel this pain, I feel honored that you let me see it."

Potente Byrd Mæmes - Yesterday at 10:18 PM
It's because they love!! each other!!!! And it's sappy and charming.

"It would be only you that I'd allow, and still I feel such shame and embarrassment." He says, and it's all evident on that slightly puffy and tear-stained face. "But... is it strange that I feel slightly... better? Though I suppose that isn't quite the right word. I feel... rather empty, now, if I'm honest. But lighter."

He nuzzles his nose against Gwyndio's with a rough sigh. "And exhausted."

Endless - Today at 9:34 PM
The knight recieves a soft 'hm' of agreement, and a quick kiss just because.

"We should get you to a bath then. 'Tis always preferable to sleep freshly clean than soaked in sweat."

Potente Byrd Mæmes - Today at 9:38 PM
Ornstein gives a grunt in response, and a slight grimace. "I do not care for dirtying the sheets with the sweat of battle, that is true." He sighs, and then... pauses, and frowns at Gwyndio, and asks, low, "Apologies if it sounds pathetic, my Lord, but... may I have a hand up?"

Endless - Today at 9:47 PM
Smiling with a bit of humor, Gwyndio gets to his feet, hauling Ornstein up with him. "As long as they are attached, I will always be willing to lend a hand."

Potente Byrd Mæmes - Today at 9:55 PM
He grunts as he's tugged up to his feet, though his legs tremor slightly. He really did tucker himself a lot with that fit, didn't he? "My thanks, my Lord...." He says softly, and then coughs a little before turning to make his way to the bathroom he's taken to using lately, the one nearest to Gwyndio's current quarters, sluggish as his pace is. "If you would not mind, may I ask you to go on ahead to draw the bath for me? I will meet you there shortly."

Endless - Today at 10:47 PM
Much as he wants to offer to be his love's support along the walk, he understands that his dearest needs to walk himself to get back a tiny bit of pride. "Of course."

And off he goes. The bath will indeed be ready by the time Ornstein gets there, as will Gwyndio be prepared to help in any way he can.

Potente Byrd Mæmes - Today at 11:17 PM
They really do understand each other so well, in the ways that count. There are many things Ornstein does not, and likely will not ever truly understand about Gwyndio. And, surely, the same must be said of Gwyndio about him. But in the important matters, in his needs, especially right this moment... Gwyndio understands him so well, enough to leave him be, let him walk with some measure of pride, broken and shrunken as it currently is.

It takes him a bit on unsteady legs to get to the bathroom- he really had no idea such a fit could be so exhausting, leaving him almost more fatigued than some of his greater battles. His head hurts, his mody aches down to his core... Ugh. The moment he walks in, sees that warm drawn water in the bath, he doesn't hesitate to just plop right in with a bit of a splash, sinking into the water with a fatigued groan........ while still fully armored.

It takes a few seconds for him to realize the mistake. "... I probably should have undressed first." He them proceeds to not move an inch.

Endless - Today at 12:10 AM
For a moment, all Gwyndio can do is just kind of stare at his lover, unable to form a coherent response. Then, slowly, a grin steals across his face and he breaks out into a short burst of hysterics that he doesn't quite calm down from before attempting to speak again.

"Pfffahaha... Perhaps I should help with that before you tarnish."

Don't mind him casually removing his own clothes before actually starting to help, Ornstein. No point in getting his own clothing wet too.

Potente Byrd Mæmes - Today at 12:13 AM
Ornstein just makes SUCH a disgruntled face at the laughter. Yes, yes, Gwyndio, laugh at your knight's exhausted antics. HMPH. Maybe it's the sheer fatigue, maybe it's his obliviousness, but when Gwyndio starts to undress, Ornstein hardly bats an eyelash.

"I suppose, if you must." He says, clearly keen on just not moving for a while, even if it means sitting fully armored in the bath. "It wouldn't do for my armor to tarnish... But it is rather embarrassing."

Endless - Today at 10:07 AM
He will absolutely laugh, because it's kinda cute, and just so *Ornstein* that he can't help it.

Pressing an affectionate kiss to his knight's temple, Gwyndio works his way up each arm, starting with the gauntlet and removing each piece of armor in order and carefully setting them aside.

Potente Byrd Mæmes - Today at 11:46 AM
Completely failing to notice or acknowledge Gwyndio's nudity, the knight just does his best to help Gwyndio undress him- and help in ways that don't expend a lot of effort, such as simply lifting his arm from the water to hold out, to make removing the armor easier. His armor is completely wet and the metal slippery, and the clothing he wears beneath totally soaked through, thickened and heavy with absorbed water.

"I can hardly remember the last time I was-" He coughs- his throat seriously took a beating earlier from all that yelling. "-was so drained as this. I'm sure it was from a great battle, too, not..."

Not having an epic fit and making an absolute embarrassment of himself.

Endless - Today at 12:18 PM
Slippery as it is, the armor doesn't prove terribly much of a problem. Being a god associated with storms would be rather difficult if he were to shy away from a little rain, after all. The breastplate proves a bit trickier when it comes time for that, so he slides into the water next to Ornstein to get a better angle.

"I'm not surprised. Emotions can be very heavy things, and you've been carrying all of that for a long time."

Potente Byrd Mæmes - Today at 12:24 PM
"I suppose that I have..." He mutters, face falling slightly. Ornstein tries to push himself upright a bit, but with his drained energy, and the weight of his armor and wet clothing, he can only push himself up so much.

"I feel oddly... empty, now, admittedly." He continues and, should Gwyndio come close enough while getting him out of his cuiraiss, the knight will let his head fall gently against his Lord. "But it is a not so terrible emptiness."

Endless - Today at 4:02 PM
Of course he's sure to get as close as he comfortably can. He wants all the physical contact his love is willing to give. He wants... Nothing can truly last forever, but he wants to be at Ornstein's side until the end of the world.

"Then let us fill it with happier things." The cuiraiss is deposited on the floor the moment it is off. "Can you raise your arms a moment? I need to get your clothes as well."

Potente Byrd Mæmes - Today at 4:22 PM
Ornstein gives a quiet, hoarse grunt of acknowledgement, and raises his arms up, though they tremble just slightly. That terribly embarrassed part of him realizes that, until he has a rest and regains his strength, as he is right now, he would not be able to pull his own spear from where he'd thrust it into the wall. It's a good thing there are a few men here already physically more powerful than he.

"That emptiness is currently being replaced with a good measure of embarrassment, if I am honest." He says with a grimace. "But unlike what came before, it will fade on its own, I'm sure. And I am already happy to have you with me, my Lord." With that said, despite how hoarse and tired and embarrassed he is, despite that Gwyndio is currently undressing him not unlike a child due to his temporary weakness, despite being soaked to the bone, despite the messy, wavy marigold hair escaped from his ponytail and sticking to his skin and getting in his eyes, he sends a small, warm smile up at Gwyndio, red-amber eyes full of a softness that is rarely ever there, almost only ever for Gwyndio.

Endless - Today at 12:54 AM
The shirt is made quick work of the moment Ornstein's arms are up, and *oh*, there's that look. That look that makes him feel far more special than all the worship and praise he'd received as Gwyn's firstborn, for it's reserved for just him; not for the Heir of Sunlight, but for *him*. It's the look that makes him desperately want to be the wonderful person that Ornstein must see. It's a smile that Gwyndio returns without thought, the corners of his own pale gold eyes crinkling with the force of his affection.

"Your happiness is all I could ask for, my beloved Knight."

Potente Byrd Mæmes - Today at 1:00 AM
Now shirtless and with his trousers (and possibly the leg armor strapped over it) remaining, Ornstein is looking much more like someone who actually belongs in the bath.

"It is timely then that you ask for s-" He coughs, "-for such." Ornstein says, that smile quirking into more of a clever smirk. "For that smile of yours has already filled me with joy, my brilliant king."

Alert! Alert! Ornstein does know how to flirt!!!

Endless - Yesterday at 5:10 PM
He might not be able to flirt for beans with other people, but used against Gwyndio it's effective enough to have the taller man blushing, grinning even harder even as he works on getting Ornstein's trousers off.

"Just be sure not to lose that voice of yours. I enjoy hearing it a lot."

Potente Byrd Mæmes - Yesterday at 5:16 PM
Ornstein chuckles, shifting his hips and legs to ease getting his trousers and underthings off to be finally dressed properly for a bath. IE not at all. "Oh, I think that's already a loss." He says, a pinkness to his cheeks, clearly flattered. "I can hardly muster a whisper as it is."

And yet he keeps talking even though his throat is clearly pained and run ragged? Ornstein why are you like this. "But I am sure it will recover as I rest." It'll recover faster if you stop talking so much. Though, perhaps, it is a compliment, that the usually quiet Dragonslayer can't help himself from talking, even when it hurts, when with his closest companion.

Endless - Yesterday at 10:13 PM
As if to illustrate the point, Gwyndio fondly says, "Then perhaps I should make sure you rest it too," and presses his lips to Ornstein's.

Potente Byrd Mæmes - Yesterday at 10:16 PM
The idiot was about to ask how Gwyndio could enforce resting his voice, but the question is answered before it can be asked by lips against his, silencing it in his throat. Yes. Okay. This is definitely a very nice way to rest his voice, he approves. And to show his approval, he gladly returns the kiss.

When he does pull away after some delightful moments, its to give a content sigh, and reach behind his head to finally pull the tie from his hair, tossing that aside so he can shake and ruffle his mane out with his hand. Now his hair is absolutely very in his eyes.

Endless - Yesterday at 11:55 PM
Kissing is by far the most pleasant method of keeping Ornstein from further damaging his voice. So much so, that he will probably be silenced with that method every time he does try to say more than a word or two.

But still, he appreciates the moment to just sit back and admire how very much his knight looks like the lions his armor is styled after with his hair down. How lucky he is that nobody ever snatched his lion up before they had the chance to choose each other.

"...My love, may I wash your hair?"

Potente Byrd Mæmes - Yesterday at 11:58 PM
I'm sure someone else has tried to court Ornstein at least once, only to be met with Ornstein's spectacular obliviousness. Good thing your orange cat is dumb, Gwyndio.

Ornstein looks up at his love through his hair, using a hand to brush it out of his eyes slightly, enough for Gwyndio to probably catch that raising eyebrow. "If you so wish, my Lord." He murmurs hoarsely. "It does feel a bit grimy."

Endless - Today at 12:56 AM
He ducks in again, pressing his lips to his knight's to silence any further talk and remains there for a long moment before pulling away.

"A simple 'yes' or 'no' would have sufficed."

...And then he reaches up, pinches Ornstein's nose shut, and (carefully) dunks him just long enough to get his hair wet. Satisfied, he grabs the nearest shampoo and starts cheerfully massaging it into his lover's scalp, heedless of any protests that might be occurring.

Potente Byrd Mæmes - Today at 1:03 AM
Ornstein makes a soft noise at the kiss- goodness! What a wonderful way to be silenced. He melts a bit, and sighs through his nose contentedly, before Gwyndio finally pulls away. Ornstein gives him a bit of a smirk at the chastisement, and opens his mouth to speak anyways- only for his nose to be pinched. It's when his head is halfway shoved down to the water that he realizes he needs to very quickly shut his mouth and hold his breath, barely managing it in time.

And oh, there are certainly protests when he's brought back in the air. "You could have warned me!" He complains, as loud as he can managed with his hoarse, broken voice- as much of a voice it can be when it's largely just breath raspily whispering into words.  "Really, my Lord, I nearly still had my mouth open!"

Endless - Yesterday at 10:15 AM
"I did warn you to rest your voice, and yet you still insist on speaking."

Gwyndio is definitely amused though, in spite of the chastisement he offers. Just relax and enjoy the fingers massaging your scalp, Ornstein.

Potente Byrd Mæmes - Yesterday at 11:19 AM
Ornstein growls, and gives Gwyndio QUITE the stinkeye. And yet, he says, "It is hardly my fault that your method of silencing me hath been so very tempting."

His face softens and he raises and eyebrow- look, when you silence him with kisses, it makes him wanna talk more to get more kisses! Still, he finally lets himself relax, and even closes his eyes... yeah, Gwyndio's hands massaging his scalp is absolutely really nice, thank you, and he gives a rough, yet very pleased, noise from his throat, mixed with a soft sigh.

Endless - Last Wednesday at 11:48 AM
"If it would not distract from actually bathing, I would gladly keep your mouth too occupied to speak. Why not take a moment to enjoy the quiet while I take care of you?"

Potente Byrd Mæmes - Last Wednesday at 2:02 PM
"Already am." Comes a voiceless whisper, Ornstein's eyes staying closed. If he could purr, he absolutely would be right at this moment, but he'll have to settle for being comfortably hunched, head lowered and his body relaxed not unlike when they cuddle for sleep while Gwyndio's fingers in his moppy hair get it all sudsy. He even tips his head slightly into the feeling of his love's clever, massaging fingers.

It's gonna be sooo heartbreaking when he inevitably gets dunked again, isn't it?

Potente Byrd Mæmes - Yesterday at 1:46 AM
i keep thinking again abt ornstein trying to tell gwyndio about the drake eggs but gwyndio being too distracted by the fact that ornstein let slip that he was going out of his way to do something nice for KoTS
and smothering ornstein with affection over it while ornsteins still trying to be like LISTEN.....

Endless - Yesterday at 10:41 AM
Yep, sounds about right
Endless - Yesterday at 6:47 PM
A pity that nice moments like this can't last forever, enjoying this as much as both of them are. Though anything big would be a blow to Ornstein's pride - and he'd never knowingly damage that, important as it is - being allowed to take care of his love in small ways is reassuring.

"I need to dunk you again, love."

Potente Byrd Mæmes - Yesterday at 7:47 PM
Ornstein gives a low grunt of acknowledgement, followed by a slightly disappointed sigh. It's too bad Gwyndio can't just wash his hair forever. But his mane is thoroughly sudsy, almost more suds than actual hair. It's gonna be so clean and fluffy when it's dry!

Anyways, Ornstein keeps his eyes shut (a bit tighter) and holds his breath, keeping his mouth shut. Ready for dunking!

Endless - Today at 11:15 AM
The dunking lasts a bit longer this time to make sure no suds linger, but as a reward, Ornstein is met with another kiss on the way back up.
Potente Byrd Mæmes - Today at 11:18 AM
He's at least prepared this time, and he can hold his breath more long enough, though he still has to gasp a little when he's let up- only to also be met with a smooch! Golly! He breaks the kiss a bit quickly, though, he still needs to take a couple breaths, and maybe... have a soft chuckle, and then give Gwyndio a soft kiss of his own.

Also, with his hair all rinsed and soaking wet, its gone super flat, much of the usual aggressive waviness gone with the weight of water, leaving his hair quite a bit longer than it normally is, and also absolutely a wet marigold curtain over his eyes.

And through that curtain of wet hair, after pulling away from his second kiss, Ornstein suddenly flashes a strange grin... Before summoning up his vestiges of strength to lunge at Gwyndio with a splash, grab his head, and SLAM DUNK him face first into the water! VENGEANCE!!


And so Ornstein finally had a single victory this day.

Endless - Yesterday at 2:32 PM
Gwyndio, completely unprepared for the retaliation, has just enough time to let out a small noise of surprise before his head is submerged.  He comes up coughing and exhaling hard through his nose in an attempt to clear it of water. But he's smiling. His hair has lost all of its usual fluff, getting into his eyes and plastering itself to every bit of skin, and his nose is now running and burns terribly, and he can't help but grin ever so brightly.

He's in love with his best friend, and he wouldn't have it any other way.

Potente Byrd Mæmes - Yesterday at 2:41 PM
Seeing Gwyndio like this, his great fluff of hair even more deflated with wet than Ornstein's, snuffling from water up his nose and grinning so brightly, the knight can't help but laugh. A proper laugh, loud and ringing, albeit hoarse and wheezy from his broken voice.

He laughs for a solid minute at least, before finally running out of breath and steam... so instead he smiles with soft eyes at Gwyndio, and apologizes. "I am so very sorry, my Lord! I could hardly resist a little revenge... I suppose it was a little disproportionate." He reaches out a hand, to brush wet silvery hair from Gwyndio's face, so he can see his beloved king's shining eyes and bright smile. "But I must say, you look beautiful this way."

Endless - Yesterday at 3:52 PM
Over the course of the laughter, Gwyndio's grin grows. It's just so good to see his love laughing so hard after he'd been so down earlier, even if it's at his own expense.

...And yet the second part of the apology catches him off-guard; so much so, that he can only stare back in open-mouthed surprise that is very quickly accented by a blush that steadily grows darker. Oh. Oh no. He knows he's never been particularly attractive, at least compared to his siblings. Sure, he'd been given a few compliments by the more flirtatious members of the group that shows up in that other world, but he's always been just a little too *himself* for most people to give him this sort of attention over Gwynevere or even Filianore and actually mean it. But here Ornstein is, the person whose opinion he holds on par with (and sometimes even above) that of his siblings, telling him he's beautiful when he's soaking wet and covered in snot.

He breaks eye contact, managing a small, shy smile. "...So you dunk me and steal what I was going to say about you as vengeance. I see how it is."

Potente Byrd Mæmes - Today at 12:52 AM
Listen! Snots from getting bathwater up your nose is temporary and can be wiped away! How wonderful Gwyndio looks with his radiant eyes and smile and all that cloud-colored hair limp and shiny with water is forever!(until it dries but shhh)

"I did admit my vengeance was, perhaps, disproportionate." The knight says, half the implication that Gwyndio wants to call him beautiful flying over his head, and Ornstein is just... half still tucking escaped strands of wet hair behind Gwyndio's ear, half just running his fingertips through the locks smoothed down by the weight of water. "But there is little to stop you from anything you wish to say, my Love. And it does not make what I have said any less true."

With that said, Ornstein runs his fingers through a good handful of Gwyndio's really rather long hair, and lifts the end of it to his face to nuzzle, eyes looking warmly and adoringly up at his king. Ornstein really is terribly in love.

Endless - Today at 12:11 AM
As a brief stall tactic (and because it just feels kinda gross leaving it there), he wipes the snot from his face with the back of his hand and attempts to wash it off in the bathwater, desperately trying to gather together a coherent sentence out of his flustered thoughts. It's not *fair* how charming his lover is! ...Or perhaps it's just that he's always been critically weak to it. In hindsight, that probably should've been a clue to the nature of his own feelings, at least after the first few years of their friendship.

Finally, he manages to ignore how nice the hair stroking and the compliments feel just enough for a quiet reply. "...You are at least twice as beautiful as I." His face is still very much on fire, though the shy smile has grown and everything in his face and body language radiates fondness for his knight.

Potente Byrd Mæmes - Today at 12:22 AM
The knight was perfectly content to keep making fond eyes at Gwyndio and nuzzle that lock of wet hair as long as Gwyndio would let him, but then the compliment revenge comes and Ornstein goes still, eyes widening slightly. Gwyndio's face isn't the only one on fire now as Ornstein's quickly grows very red, up to his ears. Despite his love having implied that he was going to say something to this effect, it still catches him off guard, and he stammers voicelessly for several moments.

"... Th... That is hardly a fair assessment to make, when I could easily say that I think you are the most wonderful looking thing in this world." He snorts a little, and takes his hand away from Gwyndio's hair, so he can instead snatch up one of his king's hands to nuzzle instead. "But then we would end up quite like Gwyndolin and that knight, wouldn't we, combating each other endlessly with dueling compliments."

He plants a few kisses over Gwyndio's knuckles, before admitting, "... Though, I can see the appeal. ... I really do love you terribly, my Lord." Don't mind him, he's just gonna be holding Gwyndio's hand in both of his and smothering it with nuzzles and kisses, his wet hair all in his face.

Endless - Today at 5:07 PM
If Ornstein keeps this up, he's gonna be a king slayer too. As it is, he's gotten a round one K.O. between the compliments and the physical affection. Even blushing and stammering is too much for his soft, squishy heart.

Over the internal keysmashing, he says, "Y-yes, well... If we sit here professing our love forever, we might catch cold from the water. If you don't wish to wash anything else, we should perhaps continue this in bed..."

Or, y'know, his beloved knight could fall asleep when they get there and Gwyndio can spend a bit of time trying very hard not to die of being too charmed. That would be good too.

Potente Byrd Mæmes - Today at 9:56 PM
I can't believe Ornstein is on the verge of accidental regicide? The monster! "I could profess my love for you for the rest of time." Ornstein says very firmly, looking up at Gwyndio from over thay warm hand he's nuzzling, "And still I would not be able to express just how much you make my heart sing."

Another kiss for Gwyndio's hand, and Ornstein finally lets go, and gives a wheezy sounding chuckle in his broken voice. "But I am afraid I may fall asleep much sooner than the end of time." He is still awfully exhausted. "Bed sounds very nice, my Lord, perhaps we should dry and retire."

Endless - Today at 10:45 PM
Were he a more theatrical soul (and slightly less pleasantly embarrassed; he's certain his entire head is ablaze and has taken his neck and part of his shoulders with it), Gwyndio would almost certainly have flopped over onto the tile and feigned a death scene. Instead, he opts to stand and use their clasped hands to drag Ornstein up with him, out of the bath, and over to the towels, smiling all the while. With his free hand, he offers a towel and a few words. "Perhaps you'll finally let your voice rest if we do the same. I'll still be here to trade compliments with when we wake."

Potente Byrd Mæmes - Today at 11:02 PM
With a grunt, Ornstein allows himself to be pulled to his feet, and out of the bath. But even after a nice, relaxing bath- or, more likely, because of it- Ornstein's legs are even more unsteady, his weight feeling almost too much for himself after being in the water.

"Though perhaps I feel that I have much catching up to do in missed opportunities..." He murmurs roughly, accepting the towel, "I suppose we likely have a plenty of time to exchange compliments all we like, and I need not rush so." But like that's gonna stop him from failing to resist the urge. For now, though, he plops the towel on his head and aggressively towels off his hair, so that when he pulls the cloth away, Gwyndio will be met with the sight of a big, golden, semi-damp bird's nest tangle of a mane, the upper half of his face truly consumed.

Endless - Yesterday at 1:44 AM
The knight recieves a soft 'hm' of agreement as Gwyndio goes about the rather longer process of drying his own, rather considerable amount of hair. He's just about done with what lies closest to his skull when the towel comes off of Ornstein, and the sight is just too amusing to keep himself from chuckling at how much his hair really does resemble a mane when it's unrestrained.

"You really are a lion in so many ways, aren't you, my love?"

Potente Byrd Mæmes - Yesterday at 6:46 AM
Ornstein had just lifted a hand to part the nearly impenetrable tangled wall of nearly curly semidamp hair so that he can peek an eye out at Gwyndio, openening his mouth intending to offer to help in the monumental task of drying his Lord's hair... but the lion comment catches him off guard, and that one visible eye and brow get to frowning.

"What is that supposed to mean?" He asks. "I wish to take it as a compliment, yet I have a feeling..." He squints........ Are you teasing him.

Endless - Yesterday at 10:37 AM
"Just that even at your most unkempt, you are beautiful." He's terribly obviously so, so very fond.

Potente Byrd Mæmes - Yesterday at 10:46 AM
Ornstein is literally standing here buck naked, holding a towel in one hand and literally having to use his other hand to push his disheveled hair out of the way in order to see with one eye. And yet! Here's Gwyndio! Calling him beautiful!

What Gwyndio can see of Ornstein's face goes quite red, and he chokes a little, and stammers, and wheezes a little with his broken voice. "My Lord!" He finally manages, averting his eye slightly, frowning and pink. "You should... sh-should cease your nonsense and allow me to assist you."

He is thoroughly flustered and being tsun about it. Don't mind this idiot.

Endless - Yesterday at 5:56 PM
If Gwyndio can be beautiful when naked and coughing and his nose running something fierce, Ornstein can certainly be beautiful when naked and floofed up. Fair's fair, etc.

He does, however, relent to the request with some amusement, sitting at a convenient bench specifically for this sort of thing facing away from the lion. "Very well. Be sure not to fall asleep in the middle, alright?"

Potente Byrd Mæmes - Yesterday at 6:05 PM
Fair's fair indeed. They are a very goofy and very beautiful pair of men, despite their recent messiness.

Ornstein huffs, all indignant, but he scoots up to Gwyndio, towel in hand- but first, let him take a minute to tuck his own hair behind his ears and brush what remains from his eyes as best he can.

"I will not fall asleep. Fatigued or otherwise, I am quite better disciplined than to fall asleep while standing and busy." Ornstein wraps the towel about a lower portion of Gwyndio's hair, and starts aggressively rubbing it dry with the cloth. "I think I would require more loss of blood for that."

Endless - Today at 8:22 AM
"I know," he murmers, resisting the urge to lean back into the drying since it would be rather unhelpful and delay getting to proper cuddle time. "In spite of the occasional jest, I never would have chosen you as my knight if you weren't amazing in all ways."

Even facing away, it's terribly easy to tell how contented he is by his posture and tone.

Potente Byrd Mæmes - Today at 8:31 AM
Gwyndio isn't the only one entirely contented. Ornstein is, but he's also quite flattered. Despite having been told this countless times, even since they met... He can't help but flush slightly and swell with steadily repairing pride.

His king will be thanked by Ornstein pausing his drying and bowing down slightly so that he can place a smooch right on the top of Gwyndio's head, again his partially dried hair. Then, he resumes the drying, working in portions of Gwyndio's great mass of hair, steadily getting it less wetly limp and more tangly and approaching fluffy like his own.

"There." He says softly when he finishes, and lays the towel about Gwyndio's shoulders... and then gently lays his arms there, too, his hands resting against either side of his king's collarbones. Another kiss for Gwyndio's hair. Mwah. "I'd normally suggest waiting a bit for it to dry further before retiring to bed and sleeping upon slightlt damo hair, but... I really am *quite* exhausted."

Endless - Last Thursday at 1:22 AM
The feel of the towel and Ornstein's hands slowly but surely pulls Gwyndio closer and closer to sleep. Almost absently, he hums an old, half-remembered tune to help keep himself awake, right up until he feels his knight's arms on his shoulders.

It takes a moment for him to form a more coherent response than another soft 'hm'. "...Perhaps we should wear towels back to the room and worry about them in the morn."

Not that he's... actually going to move until a certain someone isn't using him as an armrest. It's comfy like this.

Potente Byrd Mæmes - Last Thursday at 7:37 AM
Ornstein will stop using his king as an armrest, then!... By instead wrapping his arms about Gwyndio's shoulder from behind in a light embrace, nuzzling his Lord's semi-damp bird's nest. His chest is against Gwyndio's back and shoulders, leaning against him, more heavily by the second.

This likely isn't helping at all.

"Perhaps I will help brush your hair in the morn." He says softly against said hair, as soft as his broken voice can manage, breath wheezing against his vocal chords with each sound he forces it to make.

Finally, after a long moment of just... happily staying like that, Ornstein pulls away, to wrap his own towel about his waist and give an impressive, scratchy-sounding yawn.

Endless - Yesterday at 3:59 PM
The hug and affectionate nuzzling does absolutely nothing to help with getting Gwyndio to move, but it does wonders in extracting pleased noises from him. Really, it's very fortunate for the both of them that Ornstein has the willpower to pull away, since it spurs Gwyndio to quickly fasten a towel that isn't terribly soaked from his hair about his own hips and drag his love along by the hand as fast as Ornstein's legs will allow. The sooner they're in bed, the sooner they can continue cuddling after all.

Potente Byrd Mæmes - Yesterday at 4:00 PM
Ornstein wasn't expecting Gwyndio, relaxed and marshmallowy, to abruptly be spurred on like this and bounce into action- he makes a surprised noise as his hand is taken and he's tugged along, unsteady legs stumbling just slightly before managing to find themselves a well enough pace.

He's even more exhausted when they reach Gwyndio's chambers, though, and Ornstein sighs wistfully, longingly, at the mere sight of the bed.

"I apologize, my Lord." He says quietly. "But I fear my heart may have been stolen from you by your own bed, and I wish to join it now."

Endless - Yesterday at 4:33 PM
Gwyndio answers with a good-natured chuckle, scooping Ornstein into his arms and flopping the both of them into bed. "That's quite alright. I know I will have it again come morning."

Potente Byrd Mæmes - Yesterday at 4:42 PM
"Uh!" Ornstein is a strong and well-respected knight and he is very much not used to being scooped up by anyone as though he were some child or waif. But alas! Gwyndio is very large and very affectionate, so Ornstein will just have to wriggle in alarm.

"My Lord..." He grumbles, frowning at Gwyndio through his mess of hair. But he doesn't follow up any chastisement, and instead allows himself to relax and sigh, allows his weight to finally become Gwyndio's burden instead of his own, melting in his beloved's arms. Much like a real cat, a relaxed Ornstein may occasionally be considered a liquid.

Endless - 11/04/2017
Said lord curls about his love as he's become accustomed to, pulling up the covers and settling in. "Goodnight, my knight."

Potente Byrd Mæmes - 11/04/2017
Gwyndio gets the majority of a 'Goodnight, my Love,' but it fades out into a slur swiftly- as soon as they both settled against the mattress and pillows, as soon as Ornstein finally let himself fully relax in bed, it's like he fell asleep instantly. So it was more like "Goodnight, my... lluhhvvrrrmn..."

Ornstein is now fucking dead to the world for at least a straight 24 hour period. So much for 'maybe I'll help brush your hair in the morning', huh.